It is with unbearable sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Kathryn Ann "Katie" LeBlanc of New Waterford, currently residing in River Bourgeois, at the age of 45.
On February 9, 2026, Katie died at St. Martha's Regional Hospital due to a sudden medical complication of her cancer treatment.
Katie was born on January 21, 1981, and raised in New Waterford. She went to high school at Breton Education Centre and then continued on to complete the dental assistant program at NSIT in Halifax. She then accepted a position with the Canadian Armed Forces where she served our country for 16 years in multiple postings across Canada.
Katie’s favourite deployment was her time stationed on the USNS MERCY where they provided humanitarian medical care to the people of southeast Asia. She visited Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Thailand.
She made countless friends and touched many with her kindness throughout her career.
More than being a veteran, Katie was family and community driven. Her husband and children were her main priority, but also was her community of St. Peter's, where she volunteered her time with many local organizations.
Katie was a bright light in the lives of those who had the privilege of knowing her. Her life was marked with love and compassion, and she had a profound impact on the lives of those that knew her. She will be remembered for her big smile, infectious laugh, and commitment to spreading kindness to everyone.
Katie will be forever loved and remembered by her husband and best friend, Matt Kyte, and their children, Rylan and Glason Price; Katie's father, Harold LeBlanc Sr., and her family, Linda LeBlanc (Larry Forward), Harold (Lisa) LeBlanc, Bobbie (Joe) MacDonald, Joel (Cheryl) LeBlanc, Sheldon (Cathy) Fraser; her sisters, Elyse and Nikki MacLeod, Amanda Fraser and Robynn Chantelle, Vanessa and Loretta Dupe; her nieces and nephews, Brett and Robyn LeBlanc, and Bhreagh and Liam MacDonald; Matt's mom, Deb Richard (Clair Rankin), brother, Aaron Kyte (Brendan Yorke); and sister, Emily (Daniel) Corkum; her lifelong friends, Lisa Pembroke, Kara Doyle, and Nicole MacGillivary-Petrie; and her "River" girls, Shanna Burke Pottie and Barb Adams.
Katie was pre-deceased by her mother, Joyce LeBlanc, and her grandparents.
Katie will be missed by far too many for any list to encompass. She was taken from us far too soon, leaving a void that will never be filled.
The skies will shine brighter as she is reunited with her mom.
We would like to thank Dr. Hilda and the ICU team at St. Martha's for their exceptional care and kindness shown to Katie and her family during this extremely difficult time. They somehow looked after all of us.
Thank you also to Che Connolly for giving Katie a chance to fight and giving all of us the time to say goodbye. We are grateful.
In lieu of flowers, Katie would hope that you would do an unexpected act of kindness for someone less fortunate.
As per Katie's wishes, there will be no service or visitation.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com.
"Your light will shine forever in our hearts"